Street Lines-Manhattan's Age-Friendly Walking Trails and Wandering Parks DRAFT

Walking Trails  and  Wandering Parks

View Walking Trails and Wandering Parks System in a larger map  

(note Google modified Google maps, and most of the icons we used are no longer displayed)

 “-Walking and Wandering are two very different things. 

-Walking is functional; it is merely the act of getting from A to B on our own two legs. 

-But when we Wander, it is the journey–not the destination–that matters”
-Brendan Crain

Age-Friendly Walking and Wandering The 3R's
- rest stops  (goal 3 minute walk) 
- rest rooms 
- recreation opportunities
 
The Health Benefits of Walking and Wandering 
“Did you know that every minute you walk can extend your life by 1.5 to 2 minutes?” -HealthLine

Walking is the " simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health.  American Heart Association

 

Print A Map


Walking Trails-A set route from Point A to Point B

 26th Street Active Recreation Walking Trail

 Hudson River Park 
 High Line 

 Wandering  Parks-"Have it your way" walking exercise
 Central Park   print version

Park Chelsea    print version
Park East Harlem 
Park Upper East side
Park Hell's Kitchen
Park Midtown South  
Park Murray Hill/Kips Bay 
Park Upper West Side 
Park West Village 

Active Design for Midtown Manhattan
Networking Public Spaces-Walking Trails/Wandering parks

26th Street Line  Active Recreation Park and Walking Trail

Swappable Parks
The Obesity Crisis and Midtown Manhattans Lack of Active Recreation
Swappable Park Possible Locations Worth Square and Baruch Plaza
Staffing the Swappable Park
Swappable Park Equipment Catalog
A history of public spaces in NYC Past, Present, Future

 

Moveable Park

Movable Squares To Give Life To Idle Streets During Holidays And Weekends In Buenos Aires

 

Plaza Movil (Movable Square) is a transportable public space to give neighbors new places to meet and play, occupying streets in days in which transit slows down in Buenos Aires. Designed by Designo Patagonia as an entry to the Livable Cities award, it seeks to improve the lives of people who don't live next to good public spaces or who don't have the means to get to them.Pop up parks and ephimerous amusement spaces are not strange to TreeHugger, but the Movable Square idea presents some interesting points in itself.
The actual square is actually a set of games, seating arrangements and green accessories that are transported in a van, traveling through different streets of neighborhoods during holidays and weekends.

Instead of being just a one-time event, the idea is to create a system which can be managed by the neighbors and local authorities to bring recreational facilities and spaces where they're most needed.
And instead of fighting urban space dedicated to transit, it just makes use of it when it's not needed by cars, which makes it easier to implement.

Having won the second prize of the Livable Cities competition, the idea has been granted a 25,000 euros award, which will be destined to build a prototype and get at least one Movable Square in the street.
According to Manuel Rapoport, head designer of the winning firm and previously featured at Treehugger, the idea is that it sparks the interest of local authorities, so that it can be replicated into many squares that can go around different areas of Buenos Aires, and even spread to other cities in Latin America and the world.

For more on this project or on Designo Patagonia's work, contact them through their website.

 

link

Bird Feeders for Humans/Bird Feeders for Readers

 Bird Feeders for Humans

I was reading an article in the New York Times "The Weird, Scary and Ingenious Brain of Maria Bamford" I saw her describe a bench as  “It’s like a bird feeder for humans" and thought YES!, this is a perfect way to describe a bench!


She bought a park bench and had it installed on the median strip in front of her house. She then spray-stenciled the words “Have a Seat!” on the sidewalk in front of it. To her delight, the bench is often occupied. “It’s like a bird feeder for humans" she says NYT  link

Some of Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen's Bird Feeders for Humans...

Want to install a "Bird feeder for Humans" near where you live? Through it's Citybench program, NYC is installing free "bird  feeders"  just like the ones above throughout the  NYC area.


To have one  installed  in your neighborhood, simply find a good location on a public sidewalk   then just click on this link 


Bird Feeders for Readers 

link

  Outdoor reading rooms, are a lot like bird feeders. They both attract and provide noutrishment to all that use them. 

Park Chelsea was recently  a winner of a grant from Citizens Committee for NYC. The grant is for Transforming Chelsea into Park Chelsea, Chelsea's Age-friendly Park That's also a park for all ages. 

As part of the grant we're installing Bird Feeders for Readers(aka outdoor reading rooms)  throughout Chelsea and surrounding areas. 

Elliott Chelsea Houses

Asser Levy Recreation Center

 

Fulton Senior Center

If you know of a good outdoor spot in the Chelsea,  Hell's Kitchen or Flatiron  areas for one of our  Bird Feeders for Readers let us know and we'll see about installing one there.
Contact Ranger Bob dvoicenyc (at ) yahoo.com


see also:
Outdoor Reading Rooms
Literacy and Outdoor Reading Rooms

Parks vs Playgrounds-A Historical Prospective

Parks vs Playgrounds

In wondering why many parks do not offer active recreation, we found a possible explanation.

While playgrounds are standard features at many parks today, the parks and playgrounds movements were actually separate movements.

Historically parks were places of passive recreation, you went to a park to view nature and perhaps listen to music . Link page 28

Playgrounds developed separately. The playgrounds movement advocated active recreation. The two movements parks and playgrounds were not always on the same page...

“...its spokesmen increasingly criticized park administrators for their emphasis on preserving natural landscapes, even when it meant severe restrictions on park use, especially by children. One playground leader said that parks were appropriately called urban “breathing spaces” because “breathing was about all one was permitted to do in them” (Boyer, pp. 244-245).  . (page 30 link)

In looking at the activities (or lack of them) offered by some of our parks, it seems that the schism between the two movements still exists.

A History of Urban Parks and Recreation from the Past to the Future

 The Past

Chelsea Before the arrival of western civilization
-Lush Park
 residents could sit/play anywhere they wanted in the area.

 A simulated aerial view of Chelsea,Mannahatta circa 1609

-Chelsea After western civilization

-private lots
residents could no longer sit or play anyplace
 the streets of Chelsea were still our parks.

Chasing Pigs at 23^rd st and 6^th Ave Circa 1850 (Letters from Phil)

 

The Sidewalks were our Parks
-. So they sent me[Jane Jacobs] to Philadelphia, 
-First he[Mr Bacon] took me to a street where loads of people were hanging around on the street, on the stoops, having a good time of it, and he said, well, this is the next street we’re going to get rid of. That was the “before” street.
 Then he showed me the “after” street, all fixed up, and there was just one person on it, a bored little boy kicking a tire in the gutter. 
 -It was so grim that I would have been kicking a tire, too.. link

 

Broome Street near Baruch Place, circa 1941

The Streets were our playgrounds-C Edward Coop , Surgeon General US

NY Street games

 

 The Present

Although it may seem obvious, Parks developed only when open space diminished 
  -NYC Dept of Parks

link

 -Our street really were our playgrounds 

-until some time in the 20^th century when the automobile lobby won their war to ban mixed use of our streets

-With the exception of a few programs such DOT Play Streets Program and its  sixty six Plazas , our streets are still off limit to humans except for crossing

Future 2020

  
 -Creation of a   decentralized park system to supplement our existing centralized parks. 

-Make NYC Age-Friendly

--Goal a seat near every street in the near future

-With more seating, every street can become a Active Recreation walking trail

How to get there:

Sidewalk Parks

The DOT  Citybench program will add 1500 Sidewalk Parks to NYC by 2015. 
 
 Chelsea currently has over 30 sidewalk parks, through Citybench and the earlier Chelseabench iniativies of the Chelsea Improvement Company and 34th Street Partnership. 

Sidewalk garden Seating

-The Downtown Alliance has added sidewalk garden seating to its sidewalks. 

Just as NYC DOT took the Chelseabench and transformed it into the Citybench,  the Parks Dept should look to add  sidewalk garden seating to its tree guards program and to get NYC to fund   deploying these throughout the city.


-Parklets

There is talk in Los Angeles of  installing  thousands  of parklets   NYC lags behind in installation of parklets

Unlike LA DOT NYC DOT has not taken a great deal of  leadership in parklets for NYC. DOT is not set up to take care of plazas or parklets. DOT Plazas are maintained by groups like BIDS.  Perhaps to get a citywide Parklets program moving  DOT shoupld partner with the  Parks Dept .

 Future 2050

With the coming of self driving vehicles, most of our streets will once again be safe and become parks and playgrounds.

A street converted to a playground in Amsterdam link Self driving cars will allow new innovated street designs where cars and people can share our streets again.

 

GAME ON! Summer Long Programming

GAME ON! Summer Long Programming at 7 Water Street Locations Kicks off June 26th and Runs Through Labor Day
-6/23/2014Download PDF

Cornhole, Foosball, Mini-Golf, Nok Hockey, Connect Four, Chalk Games and More!
“Game” Activities to Run Alongside World Cup Viewings,an “Urban Beach,”
Beer Gardens and a Curated, Temporary Food Truck Series at Old Slip Park

Stay Connected as You Get Your Game On!
Water Street and East River Esplanade Free Wifi Corridor Up and Running

The Downtown Alliance is launching a summer series of programs at seven locations along Water Street, from Whitehall Street to Wall Street, beginning June 26th and lasting through Labor Day.
At the same time the Alliance is thrilled to announce the completion of a huge expansion of its free Wi-Fi system that now will largely blanket the entire Water Street corridor from Fulton Street to the Battery along with the East River Esplanade.

The programming series is entitled Game On!, and will present a variety of games and activities in Water Street’s public spaces.  The goal of the programs is to activate these spaces to encourage the nearby commercial and residential tenant populations to utilize these areas in new, lively and fun ways. Everything from Nok Hockey and Foosball tables, giant Connect Four games, Battleship board games, traditional chalk games like hopscotch, shuffleboard and mini golf will be available.

“Water Street is where to go to get your Game On! this summer,’ said Jessica Lappin President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “It’s time to get out on Water Street and take part in an array of participatory, outdoor activities, enjoy the water breezes, get some sand between your toes, sample some outstanding food and drink, watch the World Cup heat up or practice your putting stroke.”

The program was conceived of and sponsored by the Alliance for Downtown New York with support from the New York City Economic Development Corporation and creative contributions from HR&A, Auster Agency, and 3x3 Design.

Go to www.downtownny.com/gameon for the latest up to date information on the program.

Game activities run Monday through Friday Noon until 7pm unless otherwise noted.

The locations and activities:

•  Water/Whitehall Plaza will be turned into an urban beach with lounge chairs and a game of shuffleboard. The beach will be designed by Joanna Pertz Landscape Architecture.

•  Coenties Slip Park and Plaza will have a beer garden operated by Zigolini’s and six corn hole games. A “Night Market” featuring farm fresh produce, music and food from local restaurants, presented in partnership with GrowNYC, will return to the Slip on July 17th.

• Elevated Acre (55 Water) will feature a unique 3 hole mini golf range designed by the famed Situ Studio.

• Old Slip Park will have additional tables and chairs set up along with nok hockey tables and Battleship board games. There will also be a set of temporary food trucks on location, Monday through Friday, 11am through 4pm. Rotating through the summer will be some of the city’s most beloved mobile food purveyors including:

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Del's Frozen Lemonade , Korilla BBQ, Asia Dog, Cool Haus,   Kimchi Taco Truck and Wings and Dinges

•  The Andaz (75 Wall) will host a beer garden with outdoor World Cup viewing on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. There will also be additional public seating and foosball tables for lovers of the “world’s game” and others.

• Gouverneur Lane Plaza will have two giant Connect Four games.

• Mannahatta Park will be home to a variety of chalk games and chalk art.

Stay Connected as You Play

The Alliance is also proud to announce the completion of a significant expansion of its free public WiFi program. Partnering with the City’s Economic Development Corporation and enjoying the sponsorship support of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Alliance’s network now covers almost all of Water Street and the East River Esplanade. This expansion more than doubles the free internet access in the neighborhood, providing coverage to over 1.34 million square feet.

Sign on at #DwntwnAllianceFreeWiFi

Both the Game On! series of events and the free Wifi Corridor are reflective of the Alliance’s ongoing commitment  to bring new life and possibility to Water Street. To view the Alliance’s 2010 plan for reimagining Water Street go to:
www.downtownny.com/sites/default/files/Introduction.pdf


 http://gameon.downtownny.com/

GAME ON! Summer Long Programming at 7 Water Street Locations Kicks off June 26th and Runs Through Labor Day

-6/23/2014Download PDF

Cornhole, Foosball, Mini-Golf, Nok Hockey, Connect Four, Chalk Games and More!
“Game” Activities to Run Alongside World Cup Viewings,an “Urban Beach,”
Beer Gardens and a Curated, Temporary Food Truck Series at Old Slip Park

Stay Connected as You Get Your Game On!
Water Street and East River Esplanade Free Wifi Corridor Up and Running

The Downtown Alliance is launching a summer series of programs at seven locations along Water Street, from Whitehall Street to Wall Street, beginning June 26th and lasting through Labor Day.
At the same time the Alliance is thrilled to announce the completion of a huge expansion of its free Wi-Fi system that now will largely blanket the entire Water Street corridor from Fulton Street to the Battery along with the East River Esplanade.
The programming series is entitled Game On!, and will present a variety of games and activities in Water Street’s public spaces.  The goal of the programs is to activate these spaces to encourage the nearby commercial and residential tenant populations to utilize these areas in new, lively and fun ways. Everything from Nok Hockey and Foosball tables, giant Connect Four games, Battleship board games, traditional chalk games like hopscotch, shuffleboard and mini golf will be available.
“Water Street is where to go to get your Game On! this summer,’ said Jessica Lappin President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “It’s time to get out on Water Street and take part in an array of participatory, outdoor activities, enjoy the water breezes, get some sand between your toes, sample some outstanding food and drink, watch the World Cup heat up or practice your putting stroke.”
The program was conceived of and sponsored by the Alliance for Downtown New York with support from the New York City Economic Development Corporation and creative contributions from HR&A, Auster Agency, and 3x3 Design.
Go to www.downtownny.com/gameon for the latest up to date information on the program.
Game activities run Monday through Friday Noon until 7pm unless otherwise noted.
The locations and activities:
•  Water/Whitehall Plaza will be turned into an urban beach with lounge chairs and a game of shuffleboard. The beach will be designed by Joanna Pertz Landscape Architecture.
•  Coenties Slip Park and Plaza will have a beer garden operated by Zigolini’s and six corn hole games. A “Night Market” featuring farm fresh produce, music and food from local restaurants, presented in partnership with GrowNYC, will return to the Slip on July 17th.
• Elevated Acre (55 Water) will feature a unique 3 hole mini golf range designed by the famed Situ Studio.
• Old Slip Park will have additional tables and chairs set up along with nok hockey tables and Battleship board games. There will also be a set of temporary food trucks on location, Monday through Friday, 11am through 4pm. Rotating through the summer will be some of the city’s most beloved mobile food purveyors including:
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Del's Frozen Lemonade , Korilla BBQ, Asia Dog, Cool Haus,   Kimchi Taco Truck and Wings and Dinges
•  The Andaz (75 Wall) will host a beer garden with outdoor World Cup viewing on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. There will also be additional public seating and foosball tables for lovers of the “world’s game” and others.
• Gouverneur Lane Plaza will have two giant Connect Four games.
• Mannahatta Park will be home to a variety of chalk games and chalk art.
Stay Connected as You Play
The Alliance is also proud to announce the completion of a significant expansion of its free public WiFi program. Partnering with the City’s Economic Development Corporation and enjoying the sponsorship support of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Alliance’s network now covers almost all of Water Street and the East River Esplanade. This expansion more than doubles the free internet access in the neighborhood, providing coverage to over 1.34 million square feet.
Sign on at #DwntwnAllianceFreeWiFi
Both the Game On! series of events and the free Wifi Corridor are reflective of the Alliance’s ongoing commitment  to bring new life and possibility to Water Street. To view the Alliance’s 2010 plan for reimagining Water Street go to:
www.downtownny.com/sites/default/files/Introduction.pdf

- See more at: http://www.downtownny.com/node/22231#sthash.X3NpAAOY.dpuf

GAME ON! Summer Long Programming at 7 Water Street Locations Kicks off June 26th and Runs Through Labor Day

-6/23/2014Download PDF

Cornhole, Foosball, Mini-Golf, Nok Hockey, Connect Four, Chalk Games and More!
“Game” Activities to Run Alongside World Cup Viewings,an “Urban Beach,”
Beer Gardens and a Curated, Temporary Food Truck Series at Old Slip Park

Stay Connected as You Get Your Game On!
Water Street and East River Esplanade Free Wifi Corridor Up and Running

The Downtown Alliance is launching a summer series of programs at seven locations along Water Street, from Whitehall Street to Wall Street, beginning June 26th and lasting through Labor Day.
At the same time the Alliance is thrilled to announce the completion of a huge expansion of its free Wi-Fi system that now will largely blanket the entire Water Street corridor from Fulton Street to the Battery along with the East River Esplanade.
The programming series is entitled Game On!, and will present a variety of games and activities in Water Street’s public spaces.  The goal of the programs is to activate these spaces to encourage the nearby commercial and residential tenant populations to utilize these areas in new, lively and fun ways. Everything from Nok Hockey and Foosball tables, giant Connect Four games, Battleship board games, traditional chalk games like hopscotch, shuffleboard and mini golf will be available.
“Water Street is where to go to get your Game On! this summer,’ said Jessica Lappin President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “It’s time to get out on Water Street and take part in an array of participatory, outdoor activities, enjoy the water breezes, get some sand between your toes, sample some outstanding food and drink, watch the World Cup heat up or practice your putting stroke.”
The program was conceived of and sponsored by the Alliance for Downtown New York with support from the New York City Economic Development Corporation and creative contributions from HR&A, Auster Agency, and 3x3 Design.
Go to www.downtownny.com/gameon for the latest up to date information on the program.
Game activities run Monday through Friday Noon until 7pm unless otherwise noted.
The locations and activities:
•  Water/Whitehall Plaza will be turned into an urban beach with lounge chairs and a game of shuffleboard. The beach will be designed by Joanna Pertz Landscape Architecture.
•  Coenties Slip Park and Plaza will have a beer garden operated by Zigolini’s and six corn hole games. A “Night Market” featuring farm fresh produce, music and food from local restaurants, presented in partnership with GrowNYC, will return to the Slip on July 17th.
• Elevated Acre (55 Water) will feature a unique 3 hole mini golf range designed by the famed Situ Studio.
• Old Slip Park will have additional tables and chairs set up along with nok hockey tables and Battleship board games. There will also be a set of temporary food trucks on location, Monday through Friday, 11am through 4pm. Rotating through the summer will be some of the city’s most beloved mobile food purveyors including:
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Del's Frozen Lemonade , Korilla BBQ, Asia Dog, Cool Haus,   Kimchi Taco Truck and Wings and Dinges
•  The Andaz (75 Wall) will host a beer garden with outdoor World Cup viewing on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. There will also be additional public seating and foosball tables for lovers of the “world’s game” and others.
• Gouverneur Lane Plaza will have two giant Connect Four games.
• Mannahatta Park will be home to a variety of chalk games and chalk art.
Stay Connected as You Play
The Alliance is also proud to announce the completion of a significant expansion of its free public WiFi program. Partnering with the City’s Economic Development Corporation and enjoying the sponsorship support of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Alliance’s network now covers almost all of Water Street and the East River Esplanade. This expansion more than doubles the free internet access in the neighborhood, providing coverage to over 1.34 million square feet.
Sign on at #DwntwnAllianceFreeWiFi
Both the Game On! series of events and the free Wifi Corridor are reflective of the Alliance’s ongoing commitment  to bring new life and possibility to Water Street. To view the Alliance’s 2010 plan for reimagining Water Street go to:
www.downtownny.com/sites/default/files/Introduction.pdf

- See more at: http://www.downtownny.com/node/22231#sthash.X3NpAAOY.dpuf

Chelsea's Puppets get to go to Camp!!!

On Saturday we attended the Fulton Houses street fair. There we met  Chris Mills of Young Life camp. "Each year, more than 100,000 kids around the world spend a week or a weekend at Young Life camp, having an experience that many describe as the best of their lives."

 After talking to Chris about Young Life , we realized that perhaps some of Chelsea's Homeless Puppets could benefit from the young Life camp experience.  We asked  Chris and he agreed Now . A group of Chelsea's puppets have now been accepted on full scholarship and will be attending Young Life camp.

 Chris has promised to send pictures of their experience there which we'll post when we recceive them.